Approximately 140 new bikes were packed into MCSO's Theodore
substation, most with tags identifying which child would be getting it come
Christmas Day. Around the edges of the room sat tables overflowing with stuffed
animals, Nerf guns and other toys for the taking.

The items were donated by private parties and businesses in
Mobile County, according to MCSO spokeswoman Lori Myles. The event was sponsored
by Walmart, Dixie Pools, Evonik Industries and Wind Creek Casino.

"I think (the bike giveaway) is a great event,"
said Jennifer Graves, who was at the Theodore substation on behalf of a high
school friend. The friend, an injured U.S. Army veteran, wanted to get a
bicycle for his 13-year-old son.

"All I want for Christmas is a crime-free Christmas," Mobile County Sheriff Sam Cochran says as he poses for a photo at the Mobile County Sheriff's Office's annual holiday bike giveaway on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013. (Theresa Seiger/tseiger@al.com)

"That's the one thing he wanted on his Christmas
list," Graves said.

Although a bike hadn't been reserved for the child, Myles
said one will likely be available. Although 140 bikes were donated, only about
100 were reserved, she said.

Sheriff Sam Cochran said any leftover donations will go to
three local nonprofit organizations serving children: St. Mary's Home, Wilmer
Hall Children's Home and the Alabama Baptist Children's Home.

At the Theodore substation parents, grandparents and others waited patiently for their names to be called before packing up reserved bicycles and leaving. Only one child was at the event, although she did not get a bicycle.

Cochran said the bikes are meant to be gifts from Santa, an illusion that would be ruined if the bicyclists to-be were in attendance.

The event was started by deputies who "saw a need in
the community," Myles said. Sometimes using their own money, they pulled
together donations to give to a small number of families who couldn't afford
gifts for the holidays.

The initial event took up less than half of the room bulging
with gifts on Tuesday, Myles said.

Around the first of December each year, deputies start
asking for people to submit their names and information for the bike giveaway.
Deputies work on a first-come, first-served basis, although they ask that
anyone who has received a bike through MCSO within the three years prior to that
year's bike giveaway allow others to benefit from the program.